Geoff

I loved the movie. Favourite scenes were (1) Bilbo and Gollum, including the riddles as well as Bilbo's moment of mercy, and leap over Gollum (2) the Wargs and the Eagles, including Bilbo's defense of Thorin (3) the Trolls (4) Bilbo's first meeting with the dwarves, with appreciation for Martin Freeman's acting in this scene and throughout the movie.

Things I didn't like (easily outweighed by the things I liked): (1) I found that the action scenes early in the movie, esp. the dragon's attack on Erebor, were difficult to follow with my eyes, in the 48 FPS 3D. I feel that the camera moved TOO FAST for my eyes to follow. There is simply to much visual data to process, with the result that I felt that I couldn't see the action. (2) Sets were "vulnerable" to appearing unrealistic with the 48 FPS ultra-clear image. (3) The movie should have been just a bit shorter - maybe 2.5 hours - for the "meat" of the story. Feeling was that film went slightly too long for the story. I would suggest editing down the length of the Stone Giant sequence, and some other action sequences. I felt that the length was correct for the dramatic scenes, including the dwarves meeting Bilbo at bag end.

Overall - I thought that the book "felt" faithful to the book, even if there were some additions. I really, really loved it. The acting by Martin Freeman is superb - just right. He gets the nuances of Bilbo's 2 natures, and the internal struggle within himself. He also nicely portrays the "anti-hero" personality of Bilbo. Loved it.

Martin Freeman 's performance as Bilbo Baggins?

Richard Armitage 's performance as Thorin?

The Overall representation of The Dwarves ?

Andy Serkis' performance as Gollum?

Ian McKellen's performance
as Gandalf?

Bilbo's retelling of the history of Erebor and of Thror/Thrain/Thorin

The Eagles rescue sequence?

The Goblin King ?

Initial impression of Thranduil?

Hugo Weaving's performance
as Elrond?

Radagast's portrayal in the movie?

The representation ofGoblintown?

Cate Blanchett's performance
as Galadriel?

The Bag End Supper scene?

The scene of the Trolls?

The representation of the Arkenstone?

The Stone Giants?

Escape from the Goblin cave?

Riddles in the Dark scene?

The return to Rivendell?

The attack on the party by the Wargs

The first glimpses of Smaug?

The ending of the movie; in regards to leading well into the next film, and serving as a good ending point.

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